Bush stands alone in his failed Iraqi democracy plans

Published: Sunday, July 8, 2007 at 3:30 a.m.

Last Modified: Friday, July 6, 2007 at 7:42 p.m.

The occupation of Iraq and the Bush administration’s attempt to transform it into a Western-style democracy was a tragic mistake.

The tragedy is only compounded by the fact that our leaders have been so slow to change the course of American involvement in the strife-torn country.

By all rights, last week’s defection of Sen. Pete Domenici, R-N.M., from the thinning ranks of Iraqi policy loyalists should help open the doors to a more sensible direction. Domenici, who had been a staunch supporter of President Bush’s Iraq policy, now says he wants a new strategy “that will move our troops out of combat operations and on the path to coming home.”

Other former hardliners who have called in recent days for a significant reduction of U.S. military presence in Iraq are Sens. Richard Lugar, R-Ind., and George Voinovich, R-Ohio, Later this month, Sen. John Warner, R-Va., is expected to publicly propose a new approach.

But the president, far from shaken by these defections, continues to pursue his policies. Increasingly, he resembles the marching band member who insisted that only he was in step; all of his colleagues were wrong.

Recent reporting in The Washington Post shows why Bush chooses to press an indefensible policy. He sees himself as an instrument of God, chosen to bring about a specific set of changes in Iraq. If others — including some of his closest supporters — now think it’s impossible to bring about those changes, it’s because they lack Bush’s divine vision.

Domenici, a no-nonsense guy who grew up working in his immigrant father’s wholesale grocery business in Albuquerque, has a less celestial view. He says he has concluded that the situation in Iraq is getting worse.

“[W]e cannot continue asking our troops to sacrifice indefinitely while the Iraqi government is not making measurable progress to move the country forward,” he told a news conference.

Parents of slain Americans in Iraq used to tell him the United States should remain in the country for as long as it takes, he said. Now, he said, many are saying it’s time to bring the troops home.

In truth, that time arrived long ago, when it became obvious to most Americans that the government in Iraq has chosen to leave the heavy lifting to our country. Voters expressed their displeasure at the polls last year but Bush’s response was to intensify the war effort through a “troop surge.”

It has failed dismally and there is little surprise that people like Domenici are defecting now. They haven’t given up on Iraq as much as they have given up on Bush.

The changes of heart by the key senators may lead, in time, to a welcome change in direction in Iraq. But it’s unlikely to come in the twilight years of this administration. Yet there is no less violence, no tangible sign of a government willing to shoulder the mantle of Iraq’s future.

To date, there have been almost 3,600 American casualties. Thousands upon thousands of Iraqi civilians have died. It’s a terrible price to pay for a flawed vision, stubbornly held.

<p>The occupation of Iraq and the Bush administration’s attempt to transform it into a Western-style democracy was a tragic mistake.</p><p>The tragedy is only compounded by the fact that our leaders have been so slow to change the course of American involvement in the strife-torn country.</p><p>By all rights, last week’s defection of Sen. Pete Domenici, R-N.M., from the thinning ranks of Iraqi policy loyalists should help open the doors to a more sensible direction. Domenici, who had been a staunch supporter of President Bush’s Iraq policy, now says he wants a new strategy that will move our troops out of combat operations and on the path to coming home.</p><p>Other former hardliners who have called in recent days for a significant reduction of U.S. military presence in Iraq are Sens. Richard Lugar, R-Ind., and George Voinovich, R-Ohio, Later this month, Sen. John Warner, R-Va., is expected to publicly propose a new approach.</p><p>But the president, far from shaken by these defections, continues to pursue his policies. Increasingly, he resembles the marching band member who insisted that only he was in step; all of his colleagues were wrong.</p><p>Recent reporting in The Washington Post shows why Bush chooses to press an indefensible policy. He sees himself as an instrument of God, chosen to bring about a specific set of changes in Iraq. If others  including some of his closest supporters  now think it’s impossible to bring about those changes, it’s because they lack Bush’s divine vision.</p><p>Domenici, a no-nonsense guy who grew up working in his immigrant father’s wholesale grocery business in Albuquerque, has a less celestial view. He says he has concluded that the situation in Iraq is getting worse.</p><p>[W]e cannot continue asking our troops to sacrifice indefinitely while the Iraqi government is not making measurable progress to move the country forward, he told a news conference.</p><p>Parents of slain Americans in Iraq used to tell him the United States should remain in the country for as long as it takes, he said. Now, he said, many are saying it’s time to bring the troops home.</p><p>In truth, that time arrived long ago, when it became obvious to most Americans that the government in Iraq has chosen to leave the heavy lifting to our country. Voters expressed their displeasure at the polls last year but Bush’s response was to intensify the war effort through a troop surge.</p><p>It has failed dismally and there is little surprise that people like Domenici are defecting now. They haven’t given up on Iraq as much as they have given up on Bush.</p><p>The changes of heart by the key senators may lead, in time, to a welcome change in direction in Iraq. But it’s unlikely to come in the twilight years of this administration. Yet there is no less violence, no tangible sign of a government willing to shoulder the mantle of Iraq’s future. </p><p>To date, there have been almost 3,600 American casualties. Thousands upon thousands of Iraqi civilians have died. It’s a terrible price to pay for a flawed vision, stubbornly held.</p>